Like it or not, peak bloom is upon us! The parks are brimming with gorgeous blossoms of the cherry and magnolia persuasion. Enjoy, rejoice and take some Claritin. But please– don’t rough up the trees! And don’t use them as a pull-up bar!
It’s also St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and you’re hereby granted permission to pinch anyone who spells it Patty. Please also remind them St. Patricia’s Day is August 25. The Wharf is hosting Ireland at The Wharf on Saturday, March 16. From noon to 5 p.m., catch Irish dance, rugby, live music and a Watering Hole and toast one of the patron saints of the Emerald Isle! Click here for the whole schedule. Sláinte!
On Wednesdays and Thursdays starting at 4:30 p.m., go to Union Station to listen to free performances organized by Sing for Hope, a non-profit that creates live concerts in public spaces. This year, students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts will be performing. Also at Union Station, Union Station in Bloom activates different spots around the beautiful Beaux-Arts building so you can get into the ethereal spirit of the Yoshinos. More info on both here.
The Bloomberg Center at Johns Hopkins University (formerly the Newseum) is a great new spot for music and lectures. Check out their schedule here and have a great time– all the programming, unless otherwise indicated, is open to the public.
Looking for community for your pup? Kingsman Bark supports Kingsman Dog Park, and they hold fun events in and out of the dog park. Email kingsmanbark@gmail.com to be included and to receive their newsletter.
Interested in community safety? Unsure as to what the police can and cannot do? MPD organizes their Community Engagement Academy three times a year and the next cohort is starting soon. Interested? Fill out the card here.
Want to share what makes a Capitol Hill Home unique? Send in your photos to Capitol Hill Restoration Society‘s Capitol Hill Home contest! Want to communicate through art? Apply to Artomatic! Want to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival from your porch? Register your Petal Porch!
WEEKLY FUN
Looking for something fun to do with your toddler? The Northeast Neighborhood library has Toddler Explorations on Mondays, from 11-noon. More info here.
Every Tuesday through Thursday, from noon until 8 p.m., the 1908 Lounge pops up at Union Station. The bar serves cocktails, beer and wine and offers a fun atmosphere for locals and commuters alike.
Don’t forget to register for the National Gallery Nights— special evening parties where the National Gallery of Art is open after hours and lovely things happen. The link to register for next month’s event, along with instructions, is here.
The Library of Congress is open late on Thursdays for Live! at the Library. These events are free but require timed passes. You can also sign up for a recording of the performance (more info here) and watch at home with your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage.
At ReLume, you can make something beautiful and have fun while doing it! From candles to seasonal decorations to starting a new hobby, you can do it all there. This week, why not make your own candle? More info here.
Mr. Henry’s is THE place to listen to jazz on the Hill. They have performances FOUR nights a week! Check out their calendar of events here.
Want to get your square dance on with the DC Rawhides? They are yee-hawing their way into our hearts on select Friday and Saturday evenings, 7-11 p.m., at Eastern Market’s North Hall. Click here for more info.
A Sunday tradition, the Flea Market at Eastern Market is your one-stop shop for wonderful art, clothing, cosmetics and more. Follow them on Instagram here.
Labyrinth has great events almost every night of the week, except for Monday. If you’re looking to demo board games or enjoy some of your favorites with old and new friends, check out their event calendar. Guess what? Labyrinth is open Mondays during the busy holiday season!
On Monday evenings, Trivia Kings takes over Barrel for trivia night. For more info, click here. (They also host trivia nights all over town.)
On Wednesday evenings, make it trivia! Two Girls Trivia runs a quiz at Fight Club starting at 7 p.m. For more information and quiz hints, check out their Twitter, @twogirlstrivia.
as you are on Barracks Row has great events happening almost every day of the week: from crafting on Wednesdays to karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays to Saturday dance parties, this queer-safe space welcomes everyone. Check out their calendar of events here.
Every Thursday and Friday, Kelly’s Irish Times has comedy! The Batting Cage Comedy show starts at 8 p.m. and is free on Thursdays. More info here.
OFF-HILL
Black Nurses Rock is holding a special screening event tomorrow, March 16, at Washington View Apartments, 2629 Douglass Road SE from 11 a.m.-noon. For more information or to RSVP, email kesilumumba@rational360.com. As you may know, the percentage of DC residents living below 200% of the Federal poverty level is between 47.4 and 50.6% in Wards 7 and 8 compared to approximately 26.8% citywide and they have the highest obesity prevalence in DC, with approximately 34% of residents there living with obesity (compared to 23.9% citywide).
The Smithsonian has a beautiful exhibit at the Kogod Courtyard, between the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The Future of Orchids examines the beauty of orchids and their fragility. Sculpture by Phaan Howng. blends and For more information, click here.
The National Building Museum’s newest long-term installation, Building Stories, is a beautiful, interactive trip for children’s book lovers of all ages. Explore the architecture of what makes a good children’s book, revisit some of your old favorites and find a new compelling story to fall in love with. The exhibit will be at the museum for 10 years, but there will be programming with the DC Public Library and a constant curation of new children’s literature titles. Make sure you grab a passport and explore! More info and tickets here.(Check out our recent peek on Instagram here.)
Mondays can be tough days, but Songbyrd has Music Trivia this and every Monday up in Union Market district to gladden hearts and fuel your competitive spirit. The best part? It’s ALL AGES! Enjoy it with friends or as a family. More info here.
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center has FREE performances that you can also catch on their livestream. For more info click here.
PLAN AHEAD
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means it’ll be extra debauched on, um, St. Pat’s Eve, Saturday, March 16. So far, we’ve heard The Wharf will have Ireland at the What, from 12-6 pm. More details soon!
The H Street Oral History Festival comes March 16 and 17 to the Atlas Performing Arts Center, organized by Mosaic Theater Company. Learn about the past of our beloved and often-maligned H Street and help envision a future and a way forward through the works of local playwrights. For more info and tickets, click here.
Story time at La Cosecha? Yes please! Join DCPL for special programming for babies and toddlers on Tuesday, March 19. More info here.
Do you love singing and cake? Then Not What You Think’s event at CHAW on March 23 at 5 p.m. is the event for you! NWYT Sings to Honor Ysaye Maria Barnwell will be an afternoon of songs that will make you laugh, think and be merry. NWYT will reprise their performance on March 24 at East City Books at 2 p.m.
Also on March 23, Hill Family Biking is teaming up with DC Public Library for a family-friendly bike ride from Eastern Market Metro Plaza to the stunning new SW Library for a special story time and Cherry Blossom peeping opportunities all along the route! It may not be Wednesday, but you should wear PINK!
And ALSO on March 23, celebrate everyone’s favorite blooms with Bloomaroo at the Wharf! The day-long celebration features live performances, koi kite decorating and FIREWORKS! For more information, click here.
And ALSO ALSO on March 23, celebrate Japanese culture at the Library of Congress! Create origami, make cherry blossom tiaras and so much more! Make sure to reserve your tickets– but you can also get same-day tickets in person. More info here.
Opening Day is April 1, but you can start planning your game day early because the special ticket event calendar is here! From Pups in the Park to Alumni nights, get the group or fam together and have fun rooting for the Nats. Click here to learn more and purchase. (Psst– the freebies list is here.)
Take a bus tour around significant sites for Black, Feminist DC with A Tour of Their Own. Black Feminist DC kicks off on April 13 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and takes you on a journey through the living history of DC. For more info and tickets, click here.
Psst: The Mystics kick off their season on May 14.